Mugabe ignores Grace in cabinet reshuffle

HARARE – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe made several changes to his cabinet yesterday, with key political players taking up new roles. However, his wife Grace remains outside government.

Prior to the reshuffle there was a widespread view that Mugabe would seize the opportunity to swear in his wife as minister of women’s affairs to mark her grand entrance to the big league.

The women’s affairs post had been vacant since December, but has now been filled by Nyasha Chikwinya.

The biggest change was in the information ministry, from where the vocal Jonathan Moyo was moved to take over the higher and tertiary education portfolio. Mugabe is yet to appoint a replacement for the former Wits lecturer.

Other notable changes were in the state security sector, where the former home affairs minister Kembo Mohadi will take charge, and home affairs, which has been handed to the longtime minister of local governance, Ignatius Chombo.

This is Mugabe’s second reshuffle since December, when he fired his long-standing deputy, Joice Mujuru.

Securocrat Emmerson Mnangagwa was made vice-president, along with Phelekezela Mphoko. TimesLive.co.za